King Mackerel

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is hosting a series of port meetings along the Atlantic coast to take a focused look at the commercial and recreational king and Spanish mackerel fisheries. Input gathered during these port meetings will directly affect future management efforts for king and Spanish mackerel. For more information, visit the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council's website.

SAFMC website

When in doubt, check with NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office to determine which zones are open to harvest.

King mackerel are divided into two separate fisheries: the Atlantic fishery (north of Miami-Dade/Monroe County line) and the Gulf-Atlantic fishery (south and west of the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line). Commercial trip limits vary by fishery, zone/region and season.

In both the Atlantic and Gulf-Atlantic fisheries, commercial harvesters must abide by federal king mackerel trip limits when fishing in state waters. Commercial harvest in state waters closes when harvest is closed in adjacent federal waters.

Minimum size limit: 24 inches fork length

Commercial license requirements: Saltwater products license, a restricted species endorsement and a federal king mackerel permit.

King Mackerel Vessel/Trip Limits - Hook and Line

For details, please see the Federal CFR

IMPORTANT: Contact NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office for up-to-date information about trip limits and closures.

Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, and Flagler counties

Federal Season 1: March 1 until the adjacent EEZ closes: 3,500-lb. vessel trip limit

Federal Season 2: October 1 until the adjacent EEZ closes: 3,500-lb. vessel trip limit

Volusia County

Federal Season 1:

March 1-31: 75 fish per vessel
April 1-Sept. 30 or until the adjacent EEZ closes: 3,500 lb. vessel trip limit

Federal Season 2:

Oct. 1-end of February or until the adjacent EEZ closes: 100 fish per vessel

Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties

Federal Season 1:

March 1-31 or until the adjacent EEZ closes: 75 fish per vessel
April 1-Sept. 30 or until the adjacent EEZ closes: 75 fish per vessel
- Vessel trip limit will decrease to 50 fish if 75% of Season 1’s federal quota is caught

Federal Season 2:

From Oct. 1-end of February or until the adjacent EEZ closes: 100 fish per vessel

Monroe and Collier counties

July 1 until the adjacent EEZ closes: 1250-lb. vessel trip limit

All Gulf coast counties except Collier and Monroe

Oct. 1 until the adjacent EEZ closes: 1250-lb. vessel trip limit